Name:
Zanthoxylum fagara - Forestiera angustifolia - Diospyros texana Shrubland
Reference:
Southeastern Ecology Working Gro...
Description:
This 1.5- to 4-m tall shrubland occurs on old beach and shell ridges along the Central Gulf Coast of Texas. It is dominated by a mixture of temperate and tropical shrubs (44 native species have been documented), but occurs in a temperate climate. While dominants vary between occurrences, <i>Zanthoxylum fagara, Forestiera angustifolia, Amyris texana, Condalia hookeri, Diospyros texana, Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa, Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri</i>, and <i>Yucca treculeana</i> are present at all known occurrences. While <i>Sideroxylon lanuginosum ssp. albicans (= Bumelia lanuginosa var. albicans)</i> occurs as a dominant shrub and sometimes emergent small tree in more northern occurrences, it is absent from more southern occurrences, where <i>Sideroxylon celastrinum</i> occurs as a dominant shrub. In the single known occurrence where the two species occur together, <i>Sideroxylon lanuginosum ssp. albicans</i> occupies the upper shrub canopy while <i>Sideroxylon celastrinum</i> occupies the lower shrub layer. Other shrubs which may be variously present in the majority of known occurrences include <i>Acacia farnesiana (= Acacia minuta), Baccharis halimifolia, Baccharis texana</i> (in more southern occurrences), <i>Celtis laevigata, Celtis pallida, Erythrina herbacea, Ilex vomitoria, Iva frutescens, Lantana urticoides (= Lantana horrida), Lycium berlandieri var. berlandieri</i> (in more southern occurrences), <i>Lycium carolinianum, Opuntia leptocaulis</i> (in more southern occurrences), <i>Sabal minor, Solanum triquetrum</i>, and <i>Ziziphus obtusifolia</i>. Less common shrubs and emergent trees include <i>Acacia rigidula, Mahonia trifoliolata (= Berberis trifoliolata), Colubrina texensis, Cornus drummondii, Ehretia anacua, Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii, Schaefferia cuneifolia</i> (in more southern occurrences), and <i>Sophora secundiflora</i>. Woody and herbaceous vines are a characteristic trait of this association, and may include <i>Anredera vesicaria, Clematis drummondii, Cynanchum barbigerum, Cynanchum racemosum var. unifarium (= Cynanchum unifarium), Ibervillea lindheimeri, Merremia dissecta (= Ipomoea sinuata), Maurandella antirrhiniflora (= Maurandya antirrhiniflora), Matelea reticulata, Melochia pyramidata, Passiflora foetida var. gossypiifolia, Rubus</i> sp., <i>Funastrum cynanchoides (= Sarcostemma cynanchoides), Vitis mustangensis, Cissus trifoliata (= Cissus incisa)</i>, and <i>Smilax bona-nox</i>. When present, <i>Sideroxylon lanuginosum ssp. albicans, Celtis cf. laevigata var. reticulata, Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa, Ehretia anacua</i>, and <i>Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii</i> occasionally emerge from the shrub layer to form a scattered overstory. Grasses and forbs which may be common in shaded areas include <i>Elymus virginicus, Setaria leucopila, Rivina humilis</i>, and <i>Leersia monandra</i>. More open areas have a more diverse ground layer, and data suggest that this herbaceous component is even more variable that the woody component. Some characteristic herbaceous species that may be present include <i>Acleisanthes obtusa, Calylophus berlandieri, Calylophus serrulatus, Chamaesyce serpens (= Euphorbia serpens), Thelesperma filifolium, Hedyotis nigricans, Geranium texanum, Gaillardia pulchella, Gaura longiflora, Indigofera miniata, Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii, Rhynchosia americana, Eragrostis secundiflora, Chamaecrista fasciculata, Phacelia congesta, Phyllanthus polygonoides, Polanisia dodecandra</i>, and <i>Stachys drummondii</i>. Many species found in this community are not known to occur outside of Texas, within the U.S.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.35044.CEGL004615
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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